Ireland cricketer Tim Murtagh has confirmed his international retirement, seven years after making his debut in green.
The 38-year-old says the decision has been coming "for years", with his Lord's Test heroics against England back in July his final on-field action for Ireland.
Murtagh received his first cap for Ireland in a one-day international against Australia in Belfast in 2012, however with the game washed out after 10 overs, it took a further two-week wait for the next match against Afghanistan for Murtagh’s first ball to be bowled in international cricket.
Murtagh appeared 97 times for the national side, claiming 142 wickets across all formats at an average of 25.54.
Defying the career arc of most, it was remarked by many observers that he seemingly improved with age, and indeed 2018 was Murtagh’s best year for Ireland claiming 28 wickets in 11 matches at a miserly average of 16.32.
Apart from the wickets, perhaps his most memorable moment with the ball during 2018 was when he delivered the first-ever ball for Ireland in men’s Test cricket at Malahide against Pakistan.
Recognised for his performances by receiving the International Player of the Year at the Cricket Ireland Awards in 2018, Murtagh remarked once that his greatest regret in international cricket was that he never played in a 50-over World Cup – sustaining an injury on the eve of the 2015 World Cup, and part of the ultimately unsuccessful 2019 World Cup qualifying campaign.
He did feature for Ireland in three T20 World Cups (2012, 2014, 2016) – the latter of which saw him come out of self-imposed retirement from that format of the international game that he had announced in 2015.
"This is a day that I have known has been coming for a few years since the ECB changed their regulations, but it hasn't made the decision any easier," he said.
"I've had eight great years playing international cricket and loved every minute of it. It's sad that it has come to an end but a decision that I have made my peace with."
Head coach Graham Ford paid tribute to the departing player.
"It’s sad to see such a great player leave our ranks, but Tim has been a model professional and a great asset to have in the dressing room.
"His performances on the pitch were top-class, but it is also the weight of experience and knowledge of the game that he brought to benefit young bowlers within the Irish setup that made his involvement invaluable."
